What Are Booklet Panes?

BOOKLET STAMPS HAVE BEEN ISSUED by THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE SINCE 1900. A BOOKLET PANE IS A PANE OF STAMPS REMOVED FROM A BOOKLET.

BEGINNING IN 1989, THE POSTAL SERVICE BEGAN SELLING "UNFOLDED BOOKLET PANES". THESES PANES-WERE NEVER SOLD IN RETAIL POST OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THEY WERE SOLD EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE PHILATELIC FULFILLMENT CENTER, IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. THE UNFOLDED PANES WERE SOLD TO STAMP COLLECTORS BEFORE THEY WERE INSERTED INTO THE BOOKLETS. THEREFORE THEY WERE NEVER FOLDED AND HAVE FULL TABS. A REGULAR PANE WOULD SHOW GUM RESIDUE ON THE TAB FROM ITS REMOVAL FROM THE BOOKLET, THESE PANES HAVE PERFECT TABS.

UNFOLDED BOOKLET PANES HAVE BECOME A VERY DESIRABLE NEW AREA OF STAMP COLLECTING, ONE WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH ALL STAMP COLLECTORS.